The #1 Cause of EV Breakdowns Will Shock You!

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  • Опубліковано 19 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 119

  • @FalkinerTim
    @FalkinerTim 16 днів тому +5

    Been there done that. I bought an MG ZS EV Mk1 and the 12V battery was on the ropes after about six months. Once I replaced the 12V battery the car has been faultless.

  • @JunkerOnDrums
    @JunkerOnDrums 14 днів тому +4

    Have driven 100,000 Km in an EV for the last three years. Never experienced anything like what you describe. Has run without problems of a notable nature. I will NEVER return in an ICE car :D

    • @johnharrison373
      @johnharrison373 13 днів тому +1

      @JunkerOnDrums My Kia Niro EV SG2, at 18 months old, needed a new 12v battery. The Kia dealership tested the battery with the Midtronics battery tester and said it just needed charging. It was only when I told them that I'd carried out a discharge test, and it had failed, did they replace the battery under warranty. I'm hoping nothing more goes wrong. At least, though, it has a 7 year warranty.

  • @peteglass3496
    @peteglass3496 14 днів тому +2

    I changed the battery on the 4yr service on my i3 as preventative maintenance - in the city often not used for days. Not worth the faff of it going haywire at an annoying time and losing a day or two to sort it out. Unlikely to last till the next service at 6yrs.

  • @simoncurtis3779
    @simoncurtis3779 18 днів тому +7

    New EVs are starting to get rid of the 12volt battery, even so I've had my Model 3 for over 4 years and it has never broken down its the most reliable car I've ever had.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  18 днів тому

      My i3 is reliable too. I only had to repair a broken CAN line due to a bad weatherproofing design. Tesla are nice cars

    • @DerekHasted
      @DerekHasted 7 днів тому +1

      "I've had my Model 3 for over 4 years and it has never broken down its the most reliable car I've ever had"
      Weird - you must have been so, so unlucky if you used to have breakdowns in ICE cars that are not yet 4 years old.
      I've never had a petrol or diesel car that's ever broken down in its first 4 years, and I've owned 6 cars from new. In fact the last time I had a car that needed a tow home was 1987.
      So sorry you such awful luck keep breaking down like that...

    • @simoncurtis3779
      @simoncurtis3779 7 днів тому +1

      @@DerekHasted Fair enough get back to me in 5 years 😅

  • @st-ex8506
    @st-ex8506 11 днів тому +1

    It does not shock me the least bit, that the problem was a dead low-voltage battery. That is a weakness in ALL cars, but especially in EVs, which tend to have so many more electric and electronic systems. Furthermore, you will likely pick up a battery going bad in an ICE vehicle, as it will start having difficulty cranking the engine (especially on a cold morning in Finland, eh?). But no such obvious "stress test" in an EV!
    I have had my Tesla Model 3 LR since July 2019, and it has seen a shop only once, for the replacement under warranty of suspension triangles... a common problem in early Model 3s. I also had a Tesla ranger coming to my home to change, under warranty again, a leaking door seal. Otherwise, no maintenance at all in 5.5 years and over 110k miles, except tyres, wipers, cabin air filters, and once brake fluid. The break pads are still perfectly fine. I check the 12V battery at least once a year.

  • @clayton4115
    @clayton4115 14 днів тому +1

    Good tips with the 12v, thanks !

  • @davidhumphreys9938
    @davidhumphreys9938 17 днів тому +4

    Exactly the same thing with ICE vehicles.

  • @Royston1860
    @Royston1860 18 днів тому +2

    Agree totally. 12v Battery on my BMW C Evolution dropped to 6V so the rest of the electrics and Display switched off. Replaced with cheap sealed battery and had no more issues.

  • @pitkatom
    @pitkatom 21 день тому +12

    I stumbled upon your channel this holiday season. Now i realized you are based in Finland. I would love to hear your great migration story :)

  • @philgreenough9730
    @philgreenough9730 17 днів тому +1

    Thanks for the video and advice. I have a new Toyota RAV4 phev, and the battery died on it because I never used it for ten days.

  • @Mind-1-777
    @Mind-1-777 21 день тому +1

    Thank you for another informative video!

  • @pmac6584
    @pmac6584 19 днів тому +3

    There is a release cable for the charging hatch in the door shit below the rear door hinge. My i3 battery is 8 years old and never had a problem with it. Any car electric or otherwise needs a new 12v battery from time to time. I had to buy one for my bmw 3 series last year hardly a big deal.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  18 днів тому

      I never knew about that release cable thanks 👍 yeah i think its those ones who drive 5 miles every 3rd day and leave the car extended periods. My i3 is 5 years old and on the original battery. But the amount of ev cars we see with knackered 12v batteries is staggering

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      @@allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      Even the top tech never stop learning.

  • @woodrimcars2324
    @woodrimcars2324 21 день тому +2

    Brilliant as usual.
    Winter in Finland very 🥶 i used to work in Hanko for Toyota Europe nearly 20 years ago now.

  • @simoncanfer5030
    @simoncanfer5030 12 днів тому +1

    EVs are lucky to get 3 years from the 12V unless they're carefully looked after. All you need to do is keep the car totally shut down, or powered on (use utility mode if available). Otherwise the small battery gets quickly drained by all the computers. A BM2 bluetooth battery monitor is very handy to keep an eye on the 12V. I also carry a power bank starter just in case. Teslas now use a tiny lithium low voltage battery instead of lead-acid. On my 4th used EV now.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  11 днів тому

      Bmw are using Lithium 48v batteries on hybrids but still the 12v one lol. The steering system is 24v on some too and the little battery can boil - fire risk.

  • @kitcht
    @kitcht 20 днів тому +2

    Super video. Great reminder to not get overwhelmed with the diagnosisane check the basics i suppose 😊. Hope you had a great Christmas and enjoy the New Year. From a fellow northern lad !!

  • @decimal1815
    @decimal1815 10 днів тому +1

    Dying 12V battery usually causes lots of fault codes in LEAF. Replace it and all is well. £50.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  9 днів тому

      Not bad at all. Are you using ccs chademo adapter?

    • @decimal1815
      @decimal1815 8 днів тому

      @@allmech_BMW_fault_finding haven't need that yet as I charge at work or overnight on AC. Still enough CHAdeMO chargers on main routes in UK so it's not bad for LEAF owners yet. The problem is charging when you can't charge at home.. that's a nightmare in my area.

  • @johnharrison373
    @johnharrison373 14 днів тому

    What I would say is, in my experience, the Midtronics battery tester isn't worth getting out of the box. Testing a brand new battery, the battery can fail, and a known faulty battery can pass. Most of the time, the test is: Charge and retest.

  • @AbbottAutomotive
    @AbbottAutomotive 20 днів тому +1

    Nice informative video. 👍🏼

  • @mikapeltokorpi7671
    @mikapeltokorpi7671 19 днів тому +4

    This is the first time I have seen EV charging port farting. Many gas caps, yes. But never a charging port.

  • @eoghanhennessy443
    @eoghanhennessy443 20 днів тому +1

    Thanks mate

  • @cnocspeireag
    @cnocspeireag 18 днів тому +1

    Has BMW just gone over to cheaper components? I have an ICE BMW, the diesel engine has a very high starting current, I've just replaced the 12v battery after more than twelve years. Will my new and expensive OEM battery fail after a few years now?

  • @undermuscled7381
    @undermuscled7381 18 днів тому +1

    I had my Yaris battery replaced after 2 years, as the battery was in the boot, I couldnt access it. AA man does the necessary and says 2 years is about average these days due to all the tech.

  • @tedf1471
    @tedf1471 18 днів тому +4

    Vehicles are getting more complex - people on the other hand...

  • @mondotv4216
    @mondotv4216 18 днів тому +2

    So a lead acid battery in a cold climate like Finland and the customer is not charging the traction battery from the wall socket. What could go wrong? That's the thing with EVs - their only source of electricity is via the traction battery (either from regen or the charge socket). There's normally a DC-DC converter (instead of an alternator) that keeps the 12V battery charged and the 12V battery supports the very high amperage drains like power steering. But if the traction battery is continually at a low state of charge it won't top off the 12V battery and it dies. My son in law has a Mazda 3 Which has become a second car. Brand new battery but they hardly drove it last winter. I tried to recharge the battery but it just wouldn't hold a charge - managed to jumpstart it after charging for hours and with a jumppack but driving it around the battery was weak and the power steering stopped working intermittently. Easy fix - new battery. I had an Outlander 2014 PHEV that I sold in 2022 with the original 12V battery so longevity comes down to the way manufacturers design the charging circuit.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  18 днів тому

      It depends where you live. I live in an apartment, had my own charging box then they ended the contract made a new one with 4x kwh rate!! Now I charge publically

    • @mondotv4216
      @mondotv4216 18 днів тому

      @ That sucks - can't you shop around for a new electricity deal?

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  18 днів тому

      Not at all. We have the same infrastructure - each apartment can choose their own contracts but the yard supply is on one contract so the housing committee decide on the price - they pay 9 cents per kwh they wanted me to pay 25 cents plus other fees making it 4x the cost lol. I ripped out my charger told them to stick it

    • @mondotv4216
      @mondotv4216 18 днів тому

      @@allmech_BMW_fault_finding Ah - so it's the body corporate who are trying to make a profit on electricity? I've never heard of that - and I reckon tenants should be protected from that kind of price gouging.

  • @SuperBartet
    @SuperBartet 19 днів тому +5

    The small battery only lasting 2 to 5 years! Last year I had to replace the start stop battery on my Diesel, the car was 10 years old.

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      It's a "Design fault" in the charging circuit.
      (Duh)

    • @rogerphelps9939
      @rogerphelps9939 17 днів тому +1

      My Leaf 12 volt battery lasted 9 years.

    • @MatthewEng2593
      @MatthewEng2593 17 днів тому +1

      My leaf 12v battery is 10 years old and still working. I think the guy said that the customer used the plug in hybrid without plugging it in causing the low 12v battery life. It's not normal

  • @stevehayward1854
    @stevehayward1854 18 днів тому +1

    In my experience, it's usually the 12v lead acid battery

  • @Nigel_Broatch
    @Nigel_Broatch 19 днів тому +2

    Add a solar panel to keep the 12V battery good.

    • @peterhoughton1731
      @peterhoughton1731 17 днів тому

      Add more solar panels to charge the main EV battery. When someone makes one of those I may just buy it.

    • @Nigel_Broatch
      @Nigel_Broatch 17 днів тому

      I think the reason it's not done is because the energy from the solar panels would be insignificant compared to the amount a car needs.
      That's from what I've worked out. It might be worth it in some very hot sunny countries though.

    • @peterhoughton1731
      @peterhoughton1731 16 днів тому

      @@Nigel_Broatch There is a solar panel powered aeroplane. So why can't we do a car.
      I'd love to see some smart guy/girl give it a proper go.
      I'm not talking about 100% solar but a normal EV with plenty of Solar back up,
      Just imagine parking your car up for a few hours on a nice day and when you get back in it, someones filled the tank up for you.
      I suspect that's all a bit too easy.
      After all us humans love making life as complicated as possible, hence the crap cars that are being churned out these days.
      I could afford as nice new motor but have no interest in any of them.
      Must Grumble.

    • @Nigel_Broatch
      @Nigel_Broatch 16 днів тому +1

      Certainly any solar power is better than nothing. Here are some figures:
      I have a very small light weight car, a Renault Twizy.
      It takes 3½ hours to charge at a rate of 2KW.
      For that it does 35 miles.
      The maximum size panel that fits on the roof would be 100W (I guess 200W on a normal size car).
      I'll leave you and everyone else to work out how long to charge to full from empty!
      Bearing in mind, with clear sky the panel will only get the full 100W for some hours of the day in summer, depending where the world.

  • @mw8653
    @mw8653 19 днів тому +2

    Just got a Mazda EV while looking on the owners forum this very problem was explained it is possible to just switch on low voltage battery it will allow you to play radio even use heater which will flatten battery in mins, once flat you cant activate the high voltage battery and your car is dead.
    A pretty shit piece of design that this can happen, the golden rule is to put your foot on the brake and press the power button. The car switches on the high voltage battery allowing you to use cars functions and it also charges the low voltage battery.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  19 днів тому +1

      Thats a bad design for sure ☹️

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      @@allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      is there a way to increase the default charging voltage of the 12v battery? Maybe even in software?

    • @MatthewEng2593
      @MatthewEng2593 17 днів тому

      Normally EVs have a 12v battery protection circuit that stops you draining it in accessory mode

  • @chuckmaddison2924
    @chuckmaddison2924 18 днів тому +1

    My biggest complaint is the " trained professionals" working on them.

  • @ambydaly5713
    @ambydaly5713 18 днів тому +1

    Why on earth doesn’t the main battery charge the 12volt battery and keep it so? With all the modern technology that can not be difficult.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  18 днів тому

      It does charge it. The dc dc converter is responsible for that but the actual battery (12v) is too small 50 ah and frankly is in my opinion is too small. The hybrid bmws actually set fault codes for battery ageing but not the i3. Its one thing many of us fail to check regularly until one day it becomes so discharged nothing works. In this i3 the power was coming from the hv battery via the dc dc converter but it simply isnt designed to power the car in place of the battery

  • @mechtechmechanical1571
    @mechtechmechanical1571 20 днів тому +3

    manc in finland great vid

  • @MrHughk1
    @MrHughk1 19 днів тому +1

    Why is the car not smart enough to use the high voltage battery to test charge the 12v battery and tell you when to replace? Should be a trivial thing to implement and given that its a catastrophic failure even a small cost would be well worth it.

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      It's probably the RATE of charging that's slightly too low

  • @lesklower7281
    @lesklower7281 19 днів тому +2

    Another thing about the low voltage battery even in a modern petrol car the battery goes flat it can cause all sorts of fault codes last year l saw my first EV break down a very new GWM Ora just stopped in traffic and l drove past the Ora in my 27 year old Toyota Hilux after all its a Chinese EV say no more 😊

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      You really know nothing about "Chinese" EVs, do you?
      smh

  • @theodavies8754
    @theodavies8754 19 днів тому +2

    Scrap it if there's a yard that will take it.

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      Well, since there's nothing wrong with "The car" that would be dumb?

  • @rogerstarkey5390
    @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому +5

    So.... It's a "Top 10" fault resulting from the 12v Battery having either a parasitic drain, or insufficient charge on a car doing primarily short runs, which results from a poor design of the 12v battery charging circuit?
    Possibly aggravated by the vehicle owner(?)
    Nothing to do with it "specifically" being "An EV"?
    And it's recoverable by someone who knows the system and therefor the "Top 10 Faults", or who just fault-finds logically?
    .
    I suppose the nearest analogy might be something like a "DPF blockage" in a diesel used mainly in a city, which resricts performance OR shuts the vehicle down?
    There's a well known channel detailing hundreds of those and he often gets the vehicle after numerous "Technicians" including those in Main dealers have either failed to find or mis-diagnosed the problem due to not knowing the *SYSTEM*
    They'll happily fit a DPF costing thousands to get the customer out the door..... for a month, or less, when a blocked sensor or tube in the problem....
    .
    THe "EV crap" mantra is ...... sad. (For a start.... No DPF to go down!)
    .
    Be more concerned about the quality of those trying to repair ALL vehicles while costing the public many thousands in unnecessary parts and labour in the process due to their ineptitude.
    (And yes, I'm a service tech in another industry who sees "Part Chuckers" who think they are "fault finding" every week)

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  18 днів тому

      I get those jobs where others cant fix too lol. Wait til my next video about flexray and idiots who tried to cheap out with an EDC suspension failure

    • @mondotv4216
      @mondotv4216 18 днів тому

      @@rogerstarkey5390 Probably not a parasitic drain. It's just the main charging port was stuck closed so the traction battery only charged of the petrol generator (that's how the Rex i3 works) and it probably never got above the threshold for charging the 12V battery via the DC - DC converter. It's crazy the owner didn't get the charge port fixed as the range on the Rex petrol engine is quite small. Rex just stands for Range EXtender.

  • @ItsAllJustBollox
    @ItsAllJustBollox 19 днів тому +10

    This problem is not just EVs any modern car with a faulty 12v battery is going to break down and throw all sorts of error codes up, this is not an EV only issue.

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      Exactly

    • @flemmingqvist8326
      @flemmingqvist8326 18 днів тому +1

      You are somehow correct. BUT a drained 12 Volt battery is reason # 1, for a non operating EV car. A glitch in the construction of every ? EV car. Some day EV manufactories will learn this - maybe ?

    • @alexanderswagin9618
      @alexanderswagin9618 18 днів тому

      It would be impractical and expensive and tricky to have a 200 plus volt electrical system for all the computers and accessories that are currently powered by the 12 volt battery. Do your basic maintenance and don’t get lazy. Or just don’t own a vehicle. Very few people these days understand what those of us who had parents who lived through the 1930s,1940s,1950s and 1960s that cars are not appliances. Everything needs some maintenance. Cheers.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  12 днів тому

      You can throw a boost pack on an ice car and to some extent also to an ev but the difference is that an alternator on an ice car might limp home the dc dc converter on sn ev most certainly will not as it is programmed to disengage power output if it detects a fault in the 12v battery. I also doubt if a boost pack would last long enough to get you any meaningful distance. Also an ice car would likely not lock in park would it? The fact is an ev will leave you up shit creek without a paddle 😅

  • @solentbum
    @solentbum 19 днів тому +3

    The ONLY time I have been stranded in an EV was within a week of buying an ex demo LEAF in Dec 2012. We were limping home in Turtle Mode when about 400 yards from home everything went blank. By the time my son arrived with a tow rope and tools the Lead Acid battery had regained enough power to restart the car for me to limp home. Never had a problem since, but I do drive many miles and slow charge almost every day.
    Don't let the initial panic overwhelm your analytical mind. and don't try to run on empty.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  19 днів тому

      Makes one wish to carry a booster pack at all times lol

    • @solentbum
      @solentbum 19 днів тому +1

      @@allmech_BMW_fault_finding I guess it would be useful to help those stranded ICE cars on frosty or damp mornings.

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      @@solentbum
      SAVAGE!!! 😉

  • @bernardcharlesworth9860
    @bernardcharlesworth9860 19 днів тому +1

    I can see why we will be moving to 19v low voltage lithium battery on all EVs.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  19 днів тому +1

      Yes. These small capacity motorcycle style batteries on the i3 are terrible. Also other larger 12v agm batteries just dont seem to last at all.

    • @bernardcharlesworth9860
      @bernardcharlesworth9860 19 днів тому

      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding yes both Renault and Peugeot advise changing 12v battery every 5 years

  • @Tensquaremetreworkshop
    @Tensquaremetreworkshop 14 днів тому

    The 12v battery is a lazy legacy from ICE cars. Understandable for a couple of years, but still?

  • @howardyarnold3133
    @howardyarnold3133 19 днів тому +5

    EV expensive crap..
    Wonder why the Car manufacturers are in deep poop.
    I've owned motorbikes Yam's Honda's for decades.
    Never ever missed a beat.
    65mpg avg

    • @cedhome7945
      @cedhome7945 18 днів тому

      I have a odyssey battery on my motor guzzi because the last one did 12 years hard service. Expense but you get what you pay for 😁

  • @shaunblakemore7150
    @shaunblakemore7150 21 день тому +1

    👍

  • @bezedoinga
    @bezedoinga 17 днів тому +1

    this is like when your h0rni girlfren was out AA batteries and started to loose her mind in spite you take care of her needs everyday several times

  • @JonHummel-q4g
    @JonHummel-q4g 18 днів тому +1

    30 secs for this video not 6 mins

    • @rogerstarkey5390
      @rogerstarkey5390 18 днів тому

      Was my first thought.
      "hear that noise?"
      Either that took the 12v battery out or the battery is too low to run the motor/ solenoid.
      Let's check the battery!
      New battery required!
      And the car is cycling through the faults, coming to life!
      Now for the flap!
      Wasn't that SIMPLE!!
      (but might upset the Luddites)

  • @LWRC
    @LWRC 20 днів тому +9

    The more conveniences, the higher level of complexity and higher probability something will fail and render the entire car useless! Avoid battery cars at all costs ! ! !

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  19 днів тому +3

      I agree to a point. I think its the unreal cost of components that worries me.

    • @mbak7801
      @mbak7801 19 днів тому +9

      The complexity of modern petrol and diesel vehicles is completely crazy and can only get worse. They are trying to push pollution ever lower on a platform that is inherently dirty and polluting. The advantage of an EV, apart from super cheap costs if home charging is that they are non polluting from the onset. Rather difficult to get less than zero.

    • @allmech_BMW_fault_finding
      @allmech_BMW_fault_finding  19 днів тому +1

      @@mbak7801i agree 😮

    • @adventtrooper
      @adventtrooper 19 днів тому

      As mbak says, it's not just EVs but also ICE cars (particularly in the EU) where the complexity has gone far beyond any sane level in the last decade. This increases the likelihood of faults and the difficulty in diagnosis, then add in the lack of spare part availability and we've created a generation of cars that have huge cost of ownership in the long term. The number still running in 10, let alone 20, years will be tiny; every one is like those executive saloons with all the toys that you find in the classifieds for scrap/repair because no-one can afford to keep them.

    • @LWRC
      @LWRC 19 днів тому

      @@adventtrooper
      That is a different problem! We are talking internal combustion vs battery! There is no free lunch in this world especially for energy conversion!!!

  • @barrydavis3044
    @barrydavis3044 18 днів тому +3

    That's what happens when you buy crap.

    • @MS-Patriot2
      @MS-Patriot2 18 днів тому

      I’d say it’s what happens when average human buys tech they don’t understand.

  • @Greggspies
    @Greggspies 18 днів тому +1

    Your car is an EV?

  • @harryodonovan9687
    @harryodonovan9687 18 днів тому

    Why bother making a video with such lousy, unintelligible audio?